John Clare
John Clare was born in the small English village of Helpston in 1793. His parents were peasants, and both of them were virtually illiterate. However, he did receive some formal education, and gained a love of literature from a young age. During his school days, he also met and became romantically involved with fellow student Mary Joyce. Though the two later went their separate ways, Clare wrote poetry to Mary for the rest of his life.
While working as a laborer, he began to write his own...
